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North Must Invest in Media to Tell Its True Narratives – Prof. Kurfi

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Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi

 

Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi, a renowned scholar in mass communication from Bayero University, Kano, has called on Northern Nigeria to urgently invest in the media sector, stressing that the absence of strong northern media platforms has weakened the region’s voice in national discourse.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement organized by the Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO) in collaboration with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Professor Kurfi lamented the collapse of legacy media institutions like New Nigerian Newspapers and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Kaduna. The event was themed “Consolidating the Outcomes of the IDRC-SPARC GES Research Findings on the Media Empowerment of Pastoralist Women in Kano State.”

According to Professor Kurfi, access to information is a powerful tool for societal development. “No communication, no society,” he stated, adding that women in rural areas, especially among the Fulani communities, must be educated on the value of information. He described the findings of the research presented during the event as a reflection of reality and not surprising to those familiar with gender issues in rural communities.

He referenced the existence of gender studies at Bayero University as a testament to the growing recognition of the need to investigate the different experiences of men and women, especially in media access and usage. Professor Kurfi said nearly 99 percent of newspapers in Nigeria are produced in the South, particularly in Lagos and Ibadan.

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“The flow of information is from the South. You cannot access what you do not own,” he explained. “What the southern press engages in is what I call media coinage. They shape narratives in ways that do not always favour the North, and while they avoid terms like ‘terrorist’ for the Igbo or Yoruba, the North is constantly labeled in such negative terms.”

Professor Kurfi emphasized that for the North to control its narrative, it must revive and invest in indigenous media institutions. He called for renewed support to expand the scope of research beyond Shagawa Ward in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, where the current study was conducted, suggesting that future studies should encompass entire local governments to get broader and more representative data.

Highlighting the importance of media literacy, he urged Fulani communities to use social media and digital platforms not only for entertainment but also for education and self-improvement. “Media literacy helps people to distinguish between misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation,” he said. “Social media tools should be used to upload content that benefits individuals and society at large.”

He also stressed the importance of collaboration in research, stating that a single organization cannot address the information gap alone. “Since FUDECO has initiated this collaborative effort, we should now focus on defined research areas, seek funding, and investigate the real problems affecting the Fulani people,” he advised.

Professor Kurfi recommended that findings of such studies be documented and shared with policymakers and stakeholders to influence practical change. “Research like this must not remain on the shelves; it should inform planning and policy that uplift marginalized communities,” he said.

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Ex-Sokoto Governor Tambuwal Officially Joins ADC

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Senator Aminu Tambuwal, a former Governor of Sokoto State, has officially resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing his departure to the party’s deepening internal crises. He has subsequently joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Tambuwal, who currently represents Sokoto South in the Senate, formalized his resignation in a letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in his Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward, Tambuwal Local Government Area. The contents of the letter were made public on Thursday.

In the correspondence, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives explained that the decision was the result of extensive deliberations with his political network. “After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” the letter stated.

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He pointed to the party’s ongoing instability as the primary reason for his exit. “The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” Tambuwal wrote.

While severing ties with the PDP, Tambuwal acknowledged the platform the party provided for his political career. “I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he noted.

Confirming his immediate switch to the ADC, Tambuwal said he is joined by his associates and supporters. He framed the move as a pursuit of a more principled and credible political vehicle. “My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.

Tambuwal’s political career has been marked by significant shifts. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015 under the PDP before crossing over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to successfully run for Governor of Sokoto State in 2015. In a dramatic move later that same year, he defected back to the PDP, under whose banner he won a second gubernatorial term in 2019.

Following the conclusion of his second term as governor in 2023, he was elected to the Senate. His latest defection to the ADC is poised to reshape the political landscape in Sokoto State, where he remains a highly influential figure.

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ADC Criticises Tinubu’s CNG Plan, Demands Price Cap

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urgently called on the Federal Government to implement a temporary cap on petrol prices, warning that the recent surge in fuel costs is exacerbating the hardship faced by millions of Nigerian households.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, acknowledged that volatility in global oil markets—spurred by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East—is contributing to the price hikes. However, the ADC argued that external factors do not justify allowing fuel prices to rise unchecked in an economy still reeling from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“For everyday Nigerians, petrol determines the price of food, transportation, and survival. When petrol rises, everything else rises with it,” Abdullahi stated. “This is why the African Democratic Congress urges the Federal Government to take urgent action to stabilize petrol prices.”

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The party criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the current APC-led government must take responsibility for shielding citizens from the harshest effects of the increases. The ADC further called for the introduction of targeted palliatives specifically designed to support low-income Nigerians who are most vulnerable to the rising cost of transportation and goods.

Beyond the immediate call for a price cap, the ADC questioned the feasibility of the government’s long-term energy strategy, specifically targeting the recently announced plan to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits.

The party noted that with over 11 million vehicles registered in Nigeria, the proposed 100,000 kits would cover less than one percent of the nation’s vehicle fleet. Furthermore, the ADC raised concerns about the limited availability of CNG refuelling stations across the country, questioning whether the policy would have any tangible impact on the average Nigerian.

“A policy that touches only a fraction of vehicles cannot meaningfully address a national fuel crisis,” Abdullahi said. “If Nigerians cannot easily find where to refuel, then the policy risks becoming an announcement without real impact.”

The ADC urged the Federal Government to pursue a more comprehensive and credible energy strategy that reflects Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing nation.

“Nigeria is an oil-producing country, and it should not be a place where the cost of petrol repeatedly pushes millions of citizens deeper into hardship,” the statement concluded. “At a time of rising global uncertainty, protecting the welfare of citizens must remain the first duty of any government that knows what they are doing.”

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Defence Minister Tasks Service Chiefs to Visit Terror-Hit North-West and North-East

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has directed the nation’s service chiefs to conduct on-the-ground visits to the North-West and North-East regions to reassess and revitalize ongoing military operations against terrorists.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during a high-level security meeting convened by the minister at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. The meeting was called to address the pressing security challenges plaguing the two zones.

Confirming the development to TheCable, Timothy Antigha, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, stated that the service chiefs are expected to embark on the visits imminently. Upon their return, they are to submit comprehensive reports detailing their findings and proposing strategic adjustments to enhance the effectiveness of military operations in the troubled regions.

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The minister’s directive follows a concerning surge in attacks by terrorist groups, who have recently intensified assaults on military installations, leading to the deaths of several personnel.

In a significant escalation on Monday, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran a military facility in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, during which a commanding officer was killed.

The following day, troops in the same locality successfully repelled another early-morning assault, also attributed to ISWAP fighters, highlighting the sustained pressure on forces in the region.

This recent spate of violence includes an attempted incursion by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on military positions in Ngoshe, Gwoza LGA, about a week prior. The Nigerian Air Force responded with air strikes in that engagement, reporting that over 50 of the suspected terrorists were neutralized.

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